Aprilia Turns Up the Heat

APRILIA TURNS UP THE HEAT

INTRODUCED AT THE MILAN Show last November, the Shiver 750 is the first of a new family of Aprilias that will soon grow to include sport and touring 4 models, including a Ducati Hypermotard-esque streetfighter. An attractive composite frame gives designers the liberty they need to develop the full range. Same goes for the engine, a liquidcooled, 90degree V-Twin that will grow in displacement to 1200cc.

This is the first engine to carry the signature of new Piaggio Group chief powertrain engineer Dr. Federico Martini, who worked at Ducati as Dr. Taglioni's assistant and later held technical and project manager positions at Bimota. The 92 x 56.4mm 750cc ver sion is credited with producing 95 horsepower and 60 foot pounds of torque, fairly sub stantial numbers for a general purpose V-Twin. The boredand-stroked, 108 x 65.5mm 1200cc version should deliver 140 hp with gobs of torque across the range. For some reason, Piaggio management was reticent to introduce the new line with a model powered by a 1-liter-plus engine delivering such massive power and torque. In the end, though, the 1200cc unit will likely be the main pillar of this new generation of Aprilias (and possibly Moto Guzzis, as well). So look for the Shiver first, followed soon after by the real heat. -Bruno de Prato